Printing mechanism with resiliently backed printing element

ABSTRACT

The disclosure embodies a printing mechanism wherein type is arranged on resilient arms radially extending in a predetermined angular disposition from a continuously driven rotatable member to position the type between an actuator and an impression means.

United States Patent Kondur, Jr. 1 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] PRINTING MECHANISM WITH [56] References Cited RESILIENTLY BACKED PRINTING UNTED STATES PATENTS ELEMENT 2,236,663 4/1941 Adams 197/53 [72] Inventor: Nicholas Kondur, Jr., Plymouth Township, 3,244,276 4/1966 Johnson et a1. 101/35 X Mich. 1,641,238 9/1927 Schierenbeck 101/42 X 3,472,352 10/1969 Kondur ..101/93 C X 1731 Sigma Burmughs Corpmflon, Dem", Mlch- 3,384,216 5/1968 Thayer 197/53 x [22] Filed: N0 12, 1969 3,461,235 8/1969 W11lcox et al. ..197/53 X [21] Appl. N 875,960 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Attorney-Kenneth L. Miller and Edwin W. Uren [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure embodies a printing mechanism wherein type is [52] US. Cl 197/18, 197/6.7, 197/49, arranged on resilient arms radially extending in a predeter 53 mined angular disposition from a continuously driven rotata- [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lj l/22 ble member to position the type between an actuator and an [58] Field of Search 1 97/53, 67, 18, 55, 49 pres n mea s.

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AT TORNE Y PATENTED FEB 22 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 .J.. u v

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PRINTING MECHANISM WITI-I RESILIENTLY BACKED PRINTING ELEMENT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in the provision of a continuously driven type carrier disc to position type to a print line and an actuator to effectively strike the type.

Prior art discloses continuously driven printing mechanisms which operate by distorting the print media against the typeface to effect printing. Such devices are necessarily restricted to the use of a relatively narrow range of types of media to ensure sharp, printed character definition.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a continuously driven printing mechanism which strikes the print media with the type to effect printing, thereby maintaining media distortion at a minimum to ensure sharp character definition and to permit the use ofa relatively large number of different types ofmedia.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a printing mechanism embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section, taken in the direction ofthe arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the type carrier disc shown removed from the mechanism of FIG. 1.

Referring the the drawings, the printing mechanism shown includes, in general, an impression means or platen 10, a carrier l2 and a hammer 14. The hammer 14 is mounted on the carrier 12, which in turn is mounted on a pair of guide rods 16 to move along the platen 10 and return. The mechanism for moving the carrier 12 along the platen 10 and returning it to a starting position is not shown; but, for a complete description of the mechanism, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,352, issued Oct. 14, 1969 and entitled HIGH-SPEED SERIAL PRINTER.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hammer 14 is preferably mounted on the carrier 12 by two oppositely disposed pairs of flexures 18, preferably spring wires. The hammer 14, which is an elongated member, extends transversely to the platen 10 and is operated by an actuator, preferably a pair of electromagnets 20, which may be mounted on the underside of the carrier 12. A lever 22 is pivoted on the carrier 12, as at 24, and interconnects the hammer l4 and its actuator or electromagnets 20. A coil spring 26 biases the lever 22 in a return direction to allow the hammer flexures 18 to return the hammer 14 to its retracted position shown.

In accordance with the invention, a rotatable driven member or type carrier 28 is mounted on the carrier 12 below the hammer 14. The type carrier 28 comprises a printing unit or type carrier disc 30, a first backing member or plate 32 having an annular recessed margin, a radially tapered annular cushion member such as a rubber bumper 33 fitted in the recess and a second backing member or plate 34 having a marginally disposed abutment 35. The disc 30 is held between the first and second backing plates 32 and 34 on a driven shaft 36. The disc 30 has a central hub portion 38 from which extend angularly spaced apart resilient arms 40. The abutment 35 on the second backing plate 34 engages and deflects the arms 40 against the tapered cushion 33. Outer end portions of the resilient arms 40 are enlarged to provide mounting pads 42 to which are respectively secured the required number of printing type 44. A centrally located aperture 46 in the hub 38 is provided to receive the driven shaft 36, which is journaled on the carrier 12. The driven shaft 36 is below and parallel to the hammer 14 and at a right angle to the axis of the platen 10, A driven gear 48 affixed to the shaft 36 adjacent to the first backing plate 32 is driven by a toothed belt 50 from a drive gear 52, which in turn is driven by an electric motor 54 mounted on the carrier 12. In the use of the printer, the type carrier 28 is rotated continuously to successively pass the printing type 44 between the platen l and the hammer 14. A record medium 56 and a transfer means 58, such as a typewriter ribbon, may be interposed between the platen l0 and the printing type 44, as shown in FIG. 2.

Also mounted on the shaft 36 and rotatable with the type carrier 28 there is a rotatable disc 60 having angularly spacedapart projections 62 around its periphery equal in number to the number of printing type 44. A transducer 64 overlies the periphery of the disc 60 and effects a succession of pulses in response to the passing of the projections 62 past the transducer 64. The rotatable disc 60 and the transducer 64 are components of a system for synchronizing the hammer action with rotation of the type carrier 28. For a complete disclosure of the synchronizing system, reference may be had to the aforementioned patent.

OPERATION With reference to the drawings, assuming the device is in operation, the electric motor 54 rotates the drive gear 52. The belt 50 transfers this motion to the driven gear 48, rotating the driven shaft 36 to which it is affixed. Since the disc 30 is mounted on the shaft 36, it also rotates, causing the type 44 secured to the ends of its arms 40 to revolve past one end of the hammer l4 and adjacent to the platen 10. Upon energizing the actuator electromagnets 20 with an electrical pulse, the end of the lever 22 adjacent to it will be magnetically attracted. The opposite end of the lever 22 will drive the hammer 14 toward the printing type 44 then positioned between it and the platen 10. The type 44 will be driven against the platen 10, pressing the transfer means or ribbon 58 and the record medium 56 therebetween and imprinting whatever character is embossed on that particular type block 44 onto the record medium 56. At the end of the electrical pulse, the electromagnets 20 will no longer magnetically attract the end of the lever 22; and the spring 26 will return the lever 22 to its resting position as shown. The hammer 14 will be restored to its resting position by the flexures 18. The type 44 driven against the platen 10 will return to its original position under the influence ofits respective resilient arm 40.

Also rotating with the shaft 36 is the disc 60, which is oriented with respect to the type carrier disc 30 such that pulses generated by the transducer 64 as projections 62 on the disc 60 revolve past it may be fed to a suitable synchronizing system to synchronize the hammer action with the rotation of the type carrier 28 as disclosed by the aforementioned patent.

The carrier 12 may be moved along the guide rods 16 adjacent to the platen 10, as shown, by any well-known business type carrier drive mechanism; or the carrier 12 may remain stationary while the platen 10 and record medium 56 are driven past it.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

an impression member;

a hammer normally spaced from said impression member and actuatable theretoward;

a rotatable hub;

a plurality of resilient arms joined to and extending radially from said hub in angular, spaced-apart relationship;

printing type respectively affixed to and adjacent the free ends of said resilient arms, said type being sequentially revolvable between said impression member and said hammer upon rotation of said hub;

a first backing member coaxially engaging one side of said hub and having an annular, recessed margin equiradially spaced from said arms;

an annular cushion member disposed in the recessed margin of said first backing member and having a radially decreasing thickness; and

a second backing member engaging said hub on the side opposite said first backing member, said second backing member having a circumferential abutment engaging and deflecting said arms against said cushion member, said printing type being held away from said impression means thereby, said cushion member defining the angle of arm deflection and further serving to damp post-printing oscillations in said arms. 

1. A printing apparatus comprising: an impression member; a hammer normally spaced from said impression member and actuatable theretoward; a rotatable hub; a plurality of resilient arms joined to and extending radially from said hub in angular, spaced-apart relationship; printing type respectively affixed to and adjacent the free ends of said resilient arms, said type being sequentially revolvable between saiD impression member and said hammer upon rotation of said hub; a first backing member coaxially engaging one side of said hub and having an annular, recessed margin equiradially spaced from said arms; an annular cushion member disposed in the recessed margin of said first backing member and having a radially decreasing thickness; and a second backing member engaging said hub on the side opposite said first backing member, said second backing member having a circumferential abutment engaging and deflecting said arms against said cushion member, said printing type being held away from said impression means thereby, said cushion member defining the angle of arm deflection and further serving to damp post-printing oscillations in said arms. 